THE BAHAMANI KINGDOM

THE BAHAMANI KINGDOM

 

 

THE BAHAMANI KINGDOM

(Capital: Gulburga & Bidar)

The Islamic rule which was limited to North India spread to Karnataka also, during medieval times. Here the Islamic rule for about three centuries was of importance for many things.

Contemporaries of Vijayanagar empire, the Bahamani rulers were their arch contenders for about 180 years.

They also influenced art and culture of the area over which they held their sway.

The Rise of Bahamani Sultanate:

Deccan was an important province of Mohammed-Bin-Thugalak the Delhi sultanate but in 1345 the nobles or Sardars of Deccan throwing off the yoke of Thugalak's suzerainty made Malik Ismail their king of Deccan.

Later he was deposed and on 3rd August 1347 Ala-uddin-Hassan Bahman Sha usurped the throne.

His earlier name was Hassan Gangu.

This new kingdom which came into being in Deccan was the Bahamani kingdom.

Gulburga was its capital.

This kingdom which began in 1347 A.D. and ended in 1527 was ruled for about 180 years by 14 kings. From 1347 to 1422 Gulburga was its capital and later Bidar became the capital in 1422 for climatic reason.

Ala-uddin-Hassan in his reign of just eleven years extended the kingdom from Penganga in North to the Krishna river in South and Konkan in west to Bhongir (belonged to Nizam's kingdom) in the East.

He was a clever administrator.Ala-uddin-Bahman Sha was a patron of education and there were many scholars in his court. Isami was his court poet.

Muhammad Shah (1358-75)

Muhammad Shah succeeded his father Ala-ud-din Hassan with great pomp.

During his regime wars against Warangal (TELANGANA) and Vijayanagara took place. Though the Sultan was cruel, he had artistic tastes.

In Gulburga, "Jami Masjid" (1367) was built in an area of 40,000 sq. feet and it is a testimony for his artistic temperament.

Ala-ud-din Mujahid (1379) and Daud Khan Mujahid who succeeded him were weak rulers and responsible for their own untimely deaths.

Muhammad Shah I (1378-97): After Daud Khan was murdered, the nobles of the court brought Muhammad Shan II to the vacant throne.

He was peace loving Sultan. He was a patron of art and literature. In a famine that hit the country in 1387 he acted in an exemplary way to give relief to his subjects. Fazalla a scholar and saint, was his Sadar-e-Jahan (Chief Justice).

During Muhanmmad Shah I's regime many provinces of this kingdom fell to Vijayanagar's custody.

Firoze Shah (1397-1422) : Firoze Shah was a cousin of Muhammad Shah lil (son of his uncle Muhammad) and also the husband of his sister.He was the most powerful of all the Bahamani rulers and ruled for about 25 years in splendor. It is said that in 1406 Firoz thwarted a combined attempt by the Hindu kingdoms of Malwa, Gujarat, Khandesh and Vjayanagar to regain the provinces that they had lost.Firoz had a great taste for literature and art. He was a patron of scholars.

He built an astronomical observatory at Daulatabad and on the banks of Bhima river he built Firozabad. Firoz knew many languages.

Ahamad Shah (1422-36): Ahamad Shah, brother of Firoz came to the throne in 1422. He declared war against Vijayanagar and Killed his enemies mercilessly and destroyed many temples to avenge the defeats of his predecessors. During 1422-23 he shifted his capital from Gulburga

to Bidar. He built a fort 3/4 mile in length and 1/2 mile in breadth at Bidar.

The Taktha Mahal was also built during this time.

Ala-ud-din II (1436-58) : Ahamad Shah was succeeded by Ala-ud-

din II. He waged war twice against Vijayanagar. Devaraya lost a son in

the ensuing battle and according to the conditions of the treaty he agreed to pay tribute to the sultan. Ala-ud-din was succeeded by his son Humayun.

Humayun who ruled from 1458-61 was famous as "Jalim"(the bigot).

 It was said that even the three years that he managed to stay in power, was due to his queen Nargis Begum and his minister (Malik

Nayeb)Muhammad Gavan. Humayun who used to be in drunken stupor always, was killed by a servant. 

Nizam Shah who succeeded him died within two years. Therefore his brother Muhammad II came to power in 1463. 

During this period Muhammad Gawan became Amir-ul-umra

(Chief Minister). As Muhammad was still a child, Gawan looked after

the affairs of the state as a regent.